New Douglas County animal shelter director Rick Smith is making numerous changes at Douglas County Animal Control, all of which will result in more animals being killed. Rick’s proposed new animal ordinance updates will make him judge, jury and executioner and will give him even more power to kill animals.

Rick has proposed that the ordinance be updated so that dogs that charge or run after someone without touching them can be declared "Dangerous." That wasn’t enough power for Rick, so he also added in that dogs that just nip or scratch someone can be declared “Dangerous.” Then, to make sure that he can execute them without interference, he has proposed that owners no longer be allowed to appeal to the animal advisory board but instead can only appeal directly to him, the Director. So no due process at all. He recently declared a german shepherd that "charged at" a person as “Dangerous” and asked a judge for permission to euthanize the dog. Luckily, the judge didn't give him permission but that was only because the law didn’t allow it. But Rick’s proposed changes to the Douglas animal ordinance will make it legal to euthanize a dog just for charging or scratching someone, with an appeal only to Rick instead of a hearing board.

PLEASE sign the petition to urge Douglas County not to approve any of Rick Smith’s proposed changes to the animal ordinance. STOP RICK SMITH!

In addition, Rick has already made numerous changes at the Douglas shelter which are detrimental to the animals. He warned the commissioners at the last public meeting that the euthanasia rate is about to go up and he’s not kidding. STOP RICK SMITH! Ask the Douglas Commissioners to fire Rick Smith and to hire a more compassionate, progressive new animal control director that cares about animals and won’t implement policies which cause more of them to be killed!

Stop Rick Smith’s animal killing ordinance in Douglas County! Do not allow his new "Dangerous Dog" ordinance to pass. This will allow him to be him to be Judge, jury and executioner to Douglas County pets. We demand a new more progressive leader. Not one that will take the shelter backwards to more killing.